Shakespear's Unveiled

So, in an effort to save a few trees, I have referred all of you here to learn about our past year. It has been a fun and rather uneventful year as compared to years past. I think the one thing that has affected our family the most is our Ward split. Without moving anywhere, our whole lives have changed and we're getting to know more people in the neighborhood.



Christopher is still practicing Dentistry. He is surviving this economy and still trying to improve his office. He is still involved in the Scouting program. He is Scout Master over the 11-year old scout program at Church. He LOVES it. He was born to Scout. He is mastering the ability to multi-task but, alas, it is with video games and computer surfing instead of laundry and washing dishes. He enjoys playing with the kiddos and our 55 lb Basset Hound that thinks she's a lap dog. He was able to take the boys to Star Wars in Concert and shed a small tear of joy. He still LOVES everything Star Wars and Science Fiction.

Christi is still working for Chris from home. She volunteers at the school once a week and serves in the Primary Presidency as the 2nd Counselor; hence, she is learning to love scouts. She continues to learn new things and tried her hand at crochet this year. Although you would never guess she has time to read, she still reads about a novel a week. Her big adventure this year was getting stung by a jelly fish in Mazatlan that turned her whole arm numb and took several hours and loads of Benadryl to return to normal.

Zacory is excelling in school. He really enjoys 4th grade. He misses his old teacher (and so does Mom) but is learning to have patience with his classmates. He has achieved his Bear in Scouts and takes after his Dad for this particular aptitude. He takes after his Mom in that he is reading all the time. He has found some good authors to follow. His new hobby is playing flag football with the neighborhood boys. We have hopes that he'll get rough & tough here soon and begin competing with his peers in sporting games. He also has started watching after his Brother and Sister for short spurts of time and little amounts of money. He's our little entrepreneur when it comes to doing extra chores around the house for even more money. He wants a College Fund for Christmas.

Tyler is also doing well in school. His teacher this year in very observant and involved, which is what this kid needs. He is getting better at reading and will probably be fighting over books with his brother soon enough. He is a very social being and loves to get involved with friends around the 'hood. But he is also completely content to play in his room with his Legos by himself. He is loving the world of Wii and in constantly issuing challenges to Mom and Dad. He is very kind and such a peacemaker in our home. He is always ready with a smile and hug! It makes us happy to see him progressing and improving in nearly everything. He has such the talent for construction and math; therefore, his whole Christmas Wish List is Lego related.

Samantha keeps us hopping around here. She goes to Pre-School 3 times a week which allows Mom some time to herself. She is quite popular at school.....especially with the boys. They are constantly vying for her attention at playtime for she's the rough & tough one that instigates most of the trouble. Although, she still loves to come home and gather up her dolls on the staircase and "read" a book to them. Her hobby of late is Checkers. That girl gets it and really makes the rest of us work to get a win. She has quite the aptitude for reading as well. She has several story books memorized and is spelling short words. She went to Disney Princesses on Ice and sat mesmerized the whole time. Hence, her Christmas Wish is to BE a princess. I hope she's happy with a doll or two or six.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope your hearts are touched with the magic of this wonderful season. We consider ourselves very blessed and extremely loved. Please keep in touch with us and may you all have a great 2010!

Mars Vs. Venus

When Chris and I were first married, we took a marriage class at BYU. I remember having a discussion about chores and splitting up the chores to maintaining a house. I recall the professor talking about distinct responsibilities that seem to be inherently male and female; taking out the trash, washing dishes, doing laundry, etc. You get the idea.

Well, now I've grown up and we have some interesting division of labor around here. I've tried to maintain the mantra: If I can physically do it, I will. This has led to my adventures in mowing the lawn, weeding, hanging up wall decor with a drill too big for my hand, climbing ladders and scooping up dog poop.

Now when it comes to snow removal our views are quite different. You see, I married a country boy that grew up in the sticks. The problem with sticks is that they don't shovel very well, not like smooth concrete. So the "Mars" perspective is to only clear the snow when it is hindering the evacuation of a vehicle....which usually translates into a foot or more. The other "Mars" view seems to be to pack the snow down and make it slick and near impossible to remove from the driveway not to mention ascend our inclined driveway to park the vehicle in the garage.

IF the drive gets shoveled, it is this "Venus" who does it most of the time. It's a little embarrassing to be the one out there with all the other men shoveling out their wives. I prefer to get out there before dawn so my wonderful MARS doesn't have a chance to pack it down with his 2 ton vehicle (OK, so it's not that big). I like a clean drive-way. I like to have my walkway free of ice and snow so solicitors won't sue me for slipping around the corner to sell me something I didn't want in the first place or have my neighbors bring me warm treats.

So here's this "Venus" Christmas wish: Shovel the drive and walkway. Just because I am physically capable of doing it doesn't mean I'm the only one who can do it. Tap into your chivalrous soul and just make your "Venus" happy with a nice clean driveway.